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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, March 19, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Mojave NP Sentencing For Attempted Carjacking/Kidnapping On the morning of December 31, 2006, J.M., 19, who'd been in an argument with a friend and had been left behind along Kelbaker Road, saw a motor home parked about a half mile away. He walked over and knocked on the door. When the motor home's driver opened the door, J.M. asked if he and his three companions had broken down. When the driver told him that they were okay and just taking a break, J.M. pulled a gun on the driver in an attempt to carjack the RV. The driver began struggling with J.M. for control of the gun; with the assistance of his three passengers, he was eventually able to get it away from J.M. The driver then pulled the trigger on the gun in an attempt to shoot J.M., but the gun proved to be empty. The struggle continued until the RV's four occupants subdued J.M. They continued to beat him until they could tie him up with their belts. They then held J.M. until CHP and sheriff's department officers arrived on scene and arrested him. On March 9th, J.M. was convicted in state court and sentenced to nine years in prison, plus four years of parole. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger] Colorado NM Fatal Motorcycle Accident A 35-year-old man from Grand Junction died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on Rim Rock Drive near the Upper Ute Canyon trailhead on the evening of March 14th. The man was traveling west on Rim Rock Drive in a 25 mph zone when he lost control of his motorcycle and ended up crashing on the eastbound lane shoulder. The man was not wearing a helmet and suffered massive head injuries. A friend of the victim who was traveling behind him on another motorcycle witnessed the accident and began immediate CPR. At this time, alcohol appears to have been a contributing factor. Rim Rock Drive is currently being resurfaced and the accident took place where the roadway was uneven. Rangers and Colorado State Patrol officers are investigating. [Phil Akers, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories can be read on either the InsideNPS web site (if you are within the National Park Service) or at the InsideNPS public ‘news digest' site (if you are outside of the NPS). The web sites appear below: Washington Office - On March 13th, Secretary Kempthorne and Director Bomar launched a series of listening sessions to seek suggestions and ideas from Americans across the country on President Bush's National Park Centennial Initiative to reinvigorate and strengthen national parks over the next decade. Grand Teton NP - Bob Vogel has been selected as deputy superintendent for Grand Teton National Park. He will begin his new assignment at Grand Teton on April 29th, replacing Jim Bellamy, who retired from the NPS last October. NER - An announcement has been posted on USAJOBS for the position of regional director for Northeast Region. NCR - NCR is seeking a superintendent for the National Mall and Memorial Parks. The announcement closes on April 16th. For more information, go to InsideNPS ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/) or NPS Digest ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-426-2430). --- ### --- |